Fair Value Nonrecurring Changes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	$ 0
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Total assets at fair value	91,715
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	302
Mortgage loans held for investment	2,563,347
Total assets at fair value	2,702,156
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	201
Mortgage loans held for investment	477,585
Total assets at fair value	507,693
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	503		325
Mortgage loans held for investment	3,040,932		2,947,021
Total assets at fair value	3,284,738		3,220,344
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	0
Other assets	0
Total assets at fair value	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	104
Other assets	0
Total assets at fair value	104
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	132
Other assets	416
Total assets at fair value	30,382
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	236
Other assets	416
Total assets at fair value	30,486
Fannie Mae [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Fannie Mae [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	38,720
Fannie Mae [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	230,175
Fannie Mae [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	268,895		294,996
Consolidated Trusts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	7,840		3,611
Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	2,524,627
Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	247,410
Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	2,772,037		2,652,025
Single-Family [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	0
Single-Family [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	0
Single-Family [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	3,657
Single-Family [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	3,657
Single-Family [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	24,583	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	24,583	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	263	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	263	[1]
Multifamily [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Acquired property, net	0
Multifamily [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Acquired property, net	0
Multifamily [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	1,238
Acquired property, net	93
Multifamily [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	1,238
Acquired property, net	$ 93

[1] Excludes estimated recoveries from mortgage insurance proceeds.